CHAPTER 3

Candy waits for hours hoping Jeremy will come back home. When she can't wait any longer, she goes to the camp to find him. Seeing Jason and Joshua talking to some of their men, she asks, "Jason, where's Jeremy? I need to talk to him."

"Well Candy, I thought he was at home with you," Jason replies.

"He did come home to lash out, hmm talk to me, but then he left. I thought, no I hoped he came back up here to work." She turns her attention to the men. "I can't believe that you, his so called friends ridiculed him like you did. You men should be ashamed of yourselves. You know how Jeremy was laughed at and taunted when he was younger all because he stuttered. What you men did was remind him of that. He was so hurt and humiliated," she cries.

Billy Sawdust says, "We're sorry, Candy. We were just trying to have a little fun. We didn't realize that Jeremy was upset about it. He didn't act like it anyways. He was laughing with us. Not until Corky told us to knock it off, did we know that Jeremy was upset and was stuttering again."

"He may have been laughing on the outside, but he was hurting on the inside," Candy replies.

"That's Jeremy for ya," Josh says. "He tries to keep his hurt hidden."

"I'm sure he stuck it out up here as long as he could," Corky adds.

"We promise there will be no more jokes about, uh, you know. He doesn't need to stay away. Tell him to come back to work," Billy says.

"I would love to tell him," says Candy, "but I have no idea where he is. Hopefully he's calmed down by now and he'll be home soon."

Candy waits up till almost midnight for Jeremy but she eventually falls asleep on the settee. Waking up the next morning, she realizes that someone has covered her with the small blanket that hangs from the back of the settee and that Jeremy is sitting on the floor asleep in front of her with his head laying on the settee, plus he's holding her hand. With her other hand she runs her fingers through his hair. "I love you," she whispers.

Jeremy stirs and sees that she's awake. "Morning," he says as he sits up and stretches.

"Good morning," she answers. "When did you get home?"

"Around one. I didn't want to disturb you," he looks at her shyly.

"So you've been sitting on the floor all night? Jeremy, you shouldn't have."

"I wanted to be with you. We haven't slept apart since we got married." He takes her hand and kisses it. "Candy, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you like I did."

"I understand why you did, Jeremy. I'm sorry, too. I shouldn't have told Biddie about our sex life. Can you forgive me?"

Jeremy grins, "I already have. Just don't tell Biddie anything else about us, okay?"

"I promise. Although Biddie swears that she didn't say a word about us to anyone. Jeremy, I believe her," Candy says.

"Did you tell anyone else?"

"No, I didn't. I promise, Biddie was the only one."

Jeremy thinks a few seconds and replies, "Well, what's done is done. Let's just let it go."

"Jeremy, come up here and sit by me." She waits for him to do so. He puts his arms around her and kisses her forehead as she leans against him. "This feels so good, to be in your arms again." She turns her head and kisses his cheek. "Jeremy, when did you stop stuttering?"

"When I got my anger under control. I'm sorry, I hate you had to see me like that again."

"I hate you had to go through that again. Jeremy, I wasn't making fun of your lovemaking. You know that, don't you? I love the way you make love to me and the way you make me feel."

"I don't know what to say. I've never been compared to a bear before. It's just that I lose control when I'm with you. I can't help it. I love you," he blushes.

"I'm glad that you love me like you do. Don't ever stop." She kisses him gently on the lips. "Besides, I love my bear."

"Yeah? Well, after the kids get off to school, maybe you can turn me into a ravenous bear."

"I would love that," she smiles lovingly at him.

"I need to warn you, I'm mighty hungry," Jeremy chuckles.

"The hungrier the better," she giggles. "You rest while I get breakfast started so Molly and Christopher can get off to school." She gives him a kiss on his cheek.

As she rises, he makes a soft roar sound and pulls her back down next to him. He then places his mouth on hers hungrily. "Thank you Candy for being so forgiving. I love you so much."

"I love you, too. I'll call you when breakfast is ready."